Punched in the net with 8:45 remaining in the first period, Makenna Mueller’s unassisted goal put the Minnesota River girls in front 1-0 against visiting New Prague on Tuesday.
The lead lasted until early in the third frame when the Trojans deadlocked the game at a goal apiece, but, assisted by Mckenna Andreson and Noelle Simonette, sophomore Claire Hathaway scored on a power play with 4:55 left to go, and the Bulldogs held on during the remainder of a wild third period to preserve the win.
In the neutral zone, Mueller’s goal started when she picked up a puck the defense knocked loose.
“I looked, and there was open ice, so I took it in.”
In the third, the Bulldogs had a minute and 14 seconds of five on three, but Hathaway didn’t come up with her goal until one player got out of the penalty box.
After, the Trojans pulled their goalie with a minute and a half left but got caught with two simultaneous minors: slashing and tripping, to put the kibosh on the threat.
New Prague also was sentenced to one 2-minute penalty in the first period and two more in the second. The Bulldogs were penalized once in the second.
After New Prague’s goal in the third, a player from each team was charged simultaneously with roughing. The Bulldogs were penalized with 27 seconds left, but New Prague still had two in the box then.
The Trojans outshot the Bulldogs 30-28, so it was a good night in the mesh for sophomore goalie Annika Magelee.
“She was on fire tonight,” Mueller said. “She had some really incredible saves on hard hit shots, so she really hung in there.”
The Bulldog girls, 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big South, host Windom on Monday. With a win over Waseca and losses to Luverne and Marshall, Windom is 1-2 in the Big South Conference and 2-3 overall.
Above: Makenna Mueller’s teammates congratulate her on her goal.
Makenna Mueller fights for control along the boards.